To aptly use the repeated cliche, the Forbidden Door was kicked wide open and delivered a top-notch PPV event. Was it considered as great as past events? You can decide.
The Forbidden Door London pre-show was crammed with four big matches featuring a slew of wrestlers all given the opportunity to showcase their stuff as though they were on the main show.
When in London, the live crowd 110% adds thrill with a never-ending performance of song, chants, and jeers.
Yuya Uemura, El Desperardo, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong defeated Hechicero, Josh Alexander, Lio Rush, and Action Andretti
Fun sprint where everyone got their hits in. Hechicero got an amazing ovation from the live crowd. During the match, Uemura was being pushed as someone to take the mantle from Hiroshi Tanahashi. If this were truly the case, being featured on a pre-show takes a bit of luster from it. Still not sure why they are teasing Roderick Strong turning.
Ricochet and the Gates of Agony defeated Michael Oku and JetSpeed
If you watched on YouTube then you saw Oku nearly die, twice. The first time was in near-spectacular fashion, but we’re also talking about a guy who wrestles near-60 minute matches on the regular. Ricochet’s crew winning makes sense given their faction appears to be next on the push-list. Tag team or Trios titles seem likely in 2026.
Megan Bayne, Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue defeated Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, Harley Cameron, and Queen Aminata
Holy cow was this fantastic and very much worthy of being presented on the main card. Bayne getting the decisive pinfall victory on Cameron was a bit of a bummer, since Cameron just busted out back onto the roster with gusto.
Also, have Aminata and Thekla fight forever. Not just because the crowd wanted it, but we all want it.
The Opps defeated Bullet Club: War Dogs to retain the AEW Trios Championships
Was it a missed opportunity for the War Dogs to win? I’m 50/50 on it. It would have been more of shock value had the branch of Bullet Club been booked to take the championships. Nonetheless, the match, while good, did feel a bit rushed considering the match ended with seconds to go before the main program was to begin.
Main Show:
Christian Cage and Adam Copeland defeated Kip Sabian and Luchasaurus
Right way to kick off the show. Killswtichasaurus was extremely over with the crowd. It should be just a matter of time before he goes back to being Luchasaurus and who knows, possibly team with Jack Perry again. Cope and Cage played off each other well, Copeland more forgiving than Cage. They showed throughout the match they can work together, but Cage still reluctant to let bygones by bygones.
When was the last time Kip Sabian was on a PPV? Who knows, but about damn time he gets more attention again. The dude is mega-talented.
It’s pretty clear C&C will collide with FTR in the very near future
Kyle Fletcher defeated Hiromu Takahashi
Given the TNT Championship was on the line, the outcome was truly never in question, however there were more than a few moments when reality was suspended, and believed Takahashi could have won. Both put on a great match, for those who never saw Takahashi before, got to see him at his best.
Fletcher is on the best run of his career. It is a shame Mark Davis has been injury-riddled and unable to wrestle for some time. But it seems Fletcher’s path to singles stardom is etched in stone.
Mercedes Mone retains the TBS Championship against Alex Windsor, Persephone, and Bozilla
Absolutely fun match. While Mone walked in and managed to escape as champion, the challengers were given lots of time to get over with the crowd and prove their value. Windsor is being catapulted to the top of the Women’s Division, and she seems to fit right in. Persephone is wild and unpredictably quick.
However, it was Bozilla who garnered the most attention. If any other championship was on the line, Bozilla should have won. Given the TBS championship was, there was at least a chance Windsor could have taken it by pinning any of the other challengers.
Mone came to the ring with faux Royal Guards carrying her eight other belts. She continues to collect indy belts from all over which is a cool thing. I might be in the minority, but I am feeling like the shtick is getting a bit stale and something needs to change. Not sure what though.
Zack Sabre Jr. retains the IWGP World Championship against Nigel McGuiness
If this wasn’t a title bout, Nigel could have believably won. He appeared to be in fantastic shape and certainly was portrayed to evenly match the prowess of ZSJ. Often we heard the commentary team “Technical Spectacle” which sounds weird, but oddly it made sense.
This one was a work of art, and everyone came out looking spectacular.
Thankfully Daniel Garcia did not impact the outcome.
Brodido defeated FTR and The Hurt Syndicate to become the new AEW World Tag Team Champions
Fantastic on all counts. This was the only believable way to get the belts off of Lashley and Benjamin. Their reign, I feel, came too soon, but it was a memorable one. We get to delay a Syndicate / FTR clash for a while longer, and this also leaves FTR free to feud with Cage and Cope without the worry of championships on the line.
Brody King deserves to hold gold. The dude is the underdog workhorse of the company. He shows up, and shows out every damn match. Do you hear the crowds when he hits the ring? Those pops rival Will Ospreay.
Bandido is a flying force. The pairing seems so random, yet works so damn well.
They just need a better finisher. What they do is cool but it’s a bit hit-and-miss.
Thekla and Queen Aminata are living up to the “Fight Forever” chants by literally still fighting since the pre-show. Skye Blue and Julia Hart rush out, but are cleared away by a returning Jamie Hayter.
Nice to see her back in action.
Kazuchka Okada defeated Swerve Strickland to retain the AEW Unified Title
Good match. Okada and Swerve work really well together. Swerve certainly pushed Okada to a limit, this was for sure. But Okada managed to outsmart the challenges to score the pinfall. After the match, Okada continued to bash Swerve’s leg. However Prince Nana rushed the ring with a pipe only to be confronted by WARDLOW.
He mauls the Prince. So Wardy’s back and joins the Don Callis Family. This is where he should have been from the start. Hopefully the eighth time is the charm for giving the big dude an appropriate push.
“Timeless” Toni Storm retains the AEW Women’s Championship against Athena
Brilliantly fantastic match. Evenly paced, no clear dominator at any point. This was a potential MOTY candidate. Storm managed to outmaneuver the “Forever Champion” into a submission.
To be fair, I truly thought Athena would win. She’s been pushed more on AEW than in recent days, so it was a surprise to me, she lost. However, I doubt this is the last we will see Athena on AEW TV. Bigger question, who is next for Storm? Bayne takes another run?
Mina Shirakawa showed up. We all love Mina.
“Hangman” Adam Page retains the AEW Men’s World Championship against MJF
Excellent match. It felt very old school to me, like a good ol’ fashioned match from the 1980s or 1990s. MJF played the heel very well, with shenanigans and cheap shots, while Page played the temperamental babyface, trying to keep cool against the man antagonizing him for months. When in control, MJF played up the arrogance and the disdain and disrespect. When Page took control, all hell broke loose. MJF eventually dropped the act and put on quite the clinic himself.
After some ref bumps and near DQ’s Page caught the challenger for Deadeye followed by Buckshot.
Now, MJF still has his contract which he can execute in the future, but how far in the future are we thinking?
Forbidden Door London Main Event: Team Ospreay defeated Death Riders and the Young Bucks in a Lights Out Cage Match
Another hilarious intro for the Bucks. This was pure carnage. It’s insane to think Darby Allin was the healthiest person on his team. Tanahashi had to be protected a lot. Very respectable moment where he got to his High Fly Flow Splash for the pinfall victory.
It was fun, it was bloody, and it was insane. Must watch.
Now, after the match the Bullet Club and Death Riders mauled Ospreay. Even though we know he is taking time off for surgery, he freakin’ said so on Dynamite, he still gets a big bad beatdown to write him off television. It wasn’t necessary in my opinion, but it gets the point across Mox is not to be trifled with.
So we move forward to Dynamite to line up the card for All Out, coming in about a month. We get some feuds continuing, while others will start building.
Did you enjoy the show?
